Bombshell Review

It's abundantly clear what thematic elements and commentaries that director Jay Roach's extremely topical new drama film Bombshell is attempting to expose and give light. But the approach that Roach and screenwriter Charles Randolph have decided to take results in an underwhelming and linear narrative that feels like it purposely pulls its punches. While the well-crafted presentation and script help prevent the film from becoming an incompetent experience, it fails to showcase anything that could be deemed powerful or gripping. Shying away from potent imagery and relying almost entirely on the solid performances from its cast instead. Despite having the potential to be impactful, Bombshell fizzles out early and unfortunately becomes forgettable.

Bombshell takes place in the offices of one of the most controversial and provocative news outlets to ever exist; FOX News, as founder Roger Ailes is hit with a lawsuit of sexual harassment by former anchor Gretchen Carlson. As Ailes and FOX personnel attempt to cover it up, the story begins to inspire more women to come forward and accuse Ailes of the same horrible treatment, slowly encouraging a movement that begins to resonate across the nation.

Most of Bombshell's success and intrigue resides in the performances of its cast, with all involved elevating many of the straightforward and predictable moments that populate the film to levels that keeps things interesting. The radiant yet vulnerable effort from Margot Robbie and John Lithgow's depiction of the tyrannous Roger Ailes are executed wonderfully and are easily the most believable and resonant aspects of the film.

But the heightened performances can't save the underwhelming denouement that Bombshell works up to, consistently addressing sobering themes with a noticeable lack of influence to create a climax that feels mundane and rushed. Many elements within Bombshell that attempt to set up a politically charged moment ultimately lack the complexity to be anything more than faux-informative.

Despite the focused direction from Roach, Bombshell's surface-level narrative that addresses themes of sexual abuse and harassment quickly becomes more voyeuristic and dull than awakening. Avoiding any opportunity to create relevant commentary and instead cultivating a mediocre and uneven film that feels inspirationally thin.

The terrific cast and solid performances throughout can’t lift Bombshell above its mediocre and undemanding attempts at powerful commentary.

Produced By: Lionsgate
Runtime: 118 minutes
Rating: R